Tetras (Family; Characidae) and Danios and Barbs (Family; Cyprinidae). I have decided to group these two families together as they share similar spawning characteristics and I use exactly the same methods for producing fish from both families. All of these fish spawn by scattering eggs and milt as they swim through or over plants. None tend to their eggs or fry in fact will eat them if given the opportunity. Sexual differences between these fish are usually in the form of body shape and or colour. Females are more robust and often larger than the slender and more colourful males. Two to three weeks prior to spawning the males and females should be separated and conditioned on high quality food, preferably live if available. Once conditioned, place one pair in a breeding tank. For all of these fish I use small tanks, 10” x 6”x 6" with four inches of water, no air is needed. These types of fish have been bred in high pH and hardness in South Australia with success however the softer waters of Queensland made them much easier to spawn. All I put in the tank with the pair is some spawning material. You can use a spawning mop, this is made of nylon yarn to look like narrow leaves, some Java moss, or if this is not handy, some coconut fibre. This was my favorite as it would last and last. You can buy coconut fibre from garden nurseries or department stores such as K- mart. Before using the fibre boil it so it sinks. Use only enough spawning material to cover 1/3 of tank bottom, so the fish can still swim through and over it. Fish are placed in tanks in the morning and taken out the next morning, so they don't eat the eggs. Some species spawn early in the morning, some at midday and others towards the evening. CONGO TETRA Sex, male is larger and more colourful with extended tail and dorsal fins than the female. This fish is very sensitive to noise, so don't tap on glass. Courtship can be stimulated by lightning, artificial or sun. Water, pH 6.2. Spawn in shallow water, fish will lay up to 300 eggs. Fry hatch in six days. Feed young Infusoria, on the second week start newly hatched brine shrimp and flake foods. BLOODFIN TETRA Sex, male has a small hook on the anal fin. Water pH 6.0 to 8.0. They lay 300 to 500 eggs, feed fry fine flake food and brine shrimp. Good life spans, up to ten years. Temp range between 18 to 28. GLASS BLOODFIN TETRA Sex, male has a noticeably extended anal fin and a black mark behind the white frontal stripe. Water pH 6.0 to 7.8. Spawns best at a temp. Of 26 to 30c. Have 300 to 500 eggs; feed fry fine flake food and brine shrimp. BLIND CAVE FISH Sex, male is thinner than the female, easy to breed in a temp of 18 to 20c. Fry hatch in two to three days and free swim on the sixth. Young are born with vision, feed fry on brine shrimp and flake food. CARDINAL TETRA Sex, male more slender while the female is more robust. Water pH 5.8 to 6.2. It is an evening spawner and will lay up to 500 eggs. Fry are light sensitive. It is very hard to get good brood stck as this fish has to pair up on its own. You can't get a male and any female and get them to spawn. I have never attempted to breed these fish as I was told they have to pair up by themselves, you can’t just put male and female in the tank, plus brood stocks here are not good enough. BLACK WIDOW TETRA Sex, male’s frontal portion of anal fin is broader than the female whose anal fin runs parallel with the stomach line. The dorsal fin on the male is narrower and more pointed. Water pH 6.0 to 8.0. Temp. 20 to 26c. This species is a prolific breeder. Eggs hatch in 24 hours, feed fry on brine shrimp, egg yolk and flake food. These fish are plant eaters. SILVER-TIPPED TETRA Sex, male is more slender and brighter in colour and has a white anal fin where the females are yellow. Likes soft clean and well-oxygenated water. Fry are easy to raise. Temp. Range from 22 to 28c. BUENOS AIRES TETRA Sex, male is more brightly coloured, fins are a brighter red or tend toward yellow, and the female is more robust. Water temp. 18 to 28c. pH range from 5.8 to 8.5 and hardness to 35 dGH. A prolific breeder and spawns easily on Java moss or green floss. GLOWLIGHT TETRA Sex, male slender while female much larger (robust) with round ventral section. Water temp. 24 to 28c, pH ranges from 5.8 to 7.5 best results around 28c in temp. HEAD-AND-TAIL LIGHT Sex, males swim bladder is more pointed, the females bladder is partially covered which gives it a rounded look. Easy to breed and is very productive. Water temp 22 to 28c pH 6.0 to 7.5 RUMMY NOSE TETRA Sex, male is thinner and female more compact with a larger stomach prior to spawning. Temp. Range between 23 to 26c, pH 6.0 to 6.5. Fry hatch in 36 hours and free swim on the forth day. Fry are very tiny so very small live foods and micro flake foods to feed fry. HYPHESSOBRYCON CALLISTUS Sex, male swim bladder points downward sharply and the female's is more rounded and concealed. The female is taller and rounder. Water temp. Range between 22 to 28c, pH 5.8 to 7.5. To spawn pH 6.0 FLAME TETRA Sex, male's anal fin is blood red while the female is a lighter colour to yellow. Pectoral fin tips are black on females only. Water temp. Range from 22 to 28c pH 5.8 to 7.8. To spawn pH of 6.5 to 7.0. BLACK NEON Sex, female has a larger stomach. Water temp. Between 23 to 27c pH 5.5 to 7.5. To spawn pH of 6.0. The eggs hatch in 36 hours. BLACK PHANTOM TETRA Sex, female is the most colourful with red adipose, pectoral and anal fin. The male is a smoky glass Grey with black fins and larger dorsal. Water temp. Range 22 to 28c, pH 6.0 to 7.5. To spawn pH 6.0 subdued lighting is recommended. YELLOW BANDED MOENKHAUSIA OR RED EYE TETRA Sex, female has a more rounded stomach. Water temp. Range between 22 to 26c, pH between 5.5 to 8.5 and the hardness of up to 30-dGH-. To breed keep the pH of 6.0. Eggs hatch from one to two days, feed fry powdered food and on the eighth day feed newly hatched brine shrimp. EMPEROR TETRA Sex, male has pointed dorsal fin and longer filaments on the tail. Water temp. Between 23 to 27c, pH 5.0 to 7.8. To breed the pH should be close to 6.5; the tank should be darkened. Female’s lay one egg at a time and up to 50 eggs are laid in one spawning. Eggs hatch in one to two days, feed fry small pond foods and in a few days newly hatched brine shrimp. NEON TETRA Sex, male is more slender and a longitudinal blue line and the female have a fuller stomach and a bent blue line. Water temp. Between 20 to 26c, pH of 7.0 to 8.0. To breed drop temp to 24c and the pH to 6.0 with the lights subdued. Female can lay as many as 130 eggs in a spawn. Eggs hatch in 24 hours and free swim on the sixth day. Feed fry small pond foods. THAYERIA BOEHLKEI OR HOCKEYSTICK Sex, the female has a more rounded stomach when ready to spawn. Water temp range between 22 to 28c, pH5.8 to 7.5. Very prolific spawners, lays as many as 1000 eggs. When spawning is complete you must change the water. As this fish releases large quantities of Milt that could cause pollution in the tank Check to see if the fish have spawned by looking for the small clear to white eggs, about the size of a pin head or slightly larger. If there are eggs present remove the fish to prevent them eating the eggs. If the pair hasn’t spawned I leave them in for another day. When spawning this type of fish I usually set up about 12 tanks at a time. Out of 12 tanks I usually get 60% to 80% to spawn by the next day if they are well conditioned beforehand. Once you have removed the parents, darken the tank to prevent fungus from attacking the eggs and they should hatch between 1 and 7 days depending on the species. Generally most tetras take 24 to 48 hours, Danios 50 hours and barbs 24 hours. When the eggs hatch you can lighten the tank again. The fry free swim in five to ten days after hatching. The fry are very small and cannot take Artemia at first feeding. I usually feed boiled egg yolk strained through a handkerchief, small pond foods, and liquid-fry. Two days after free swimming the fry are moved to a grow-out tank or pond where they are fed on brine shrimp and fine flake foods.